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Rudolph's claims strike fear in some

Clinics on edge

Posted: Friday, April 15, 2005

By Daniel YeeAssociated Press

ATLANTA - Eric Rudolph's claim that he was trying to stop abortions when he set off bombs at the 1996 Olympics, two women's clinics and a gay nightclub has angered activists on both sides of the abortion debate and put many on edge.

Abortion clinics around the country are bracing for possible copycat attacks, saying Rudolph's statement issued Wednesday amounted to a "call to action" for extremists.

"When one of these extremists puts out a call to action, oftentimes, others do try to follow in their footsteps," said Vicki Saporta, head of the National Abortion Federation, which represents 400 U.S. clinics. "He clearly is speaking to the extremists who believe in justifiable homicide."

For years, experts had speculated about Rudolph's motive for the bombings. An 11-page manifesto handed out by his attorneys immediately after he pleaded guilty to the bombings marked the first time Rudolph had offered an explanation.

Rudolph said he set off the explosions because he was frustrated President Bush, the Republican Party and other "plastic" abortion opponents had not stopped abortions in the United States, which Rudolph called "the worst massacre in human history."

Concerned that Rudolph's extremist statement could prompt more violence, abortion clinics and federal agents were running on a heightened state of alert.

"We're making sure our liaisons have kept up with the clinics and to make sure the security clinics have is up to date," said Mike Campbell, spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. "Most of them are very cognizant they can be a target of anybody who doesn't like abortion."

While others likely will follow in Rudolph's footsteps, it won't be because of the serial bomber's manifesto, said Neal Horsley, an outspoken abortion opponent from Carrollton.

"What inspired Eric Rudolph will inspire other people ... the knowledge of the fact we're literally slaughtering thousands of the most helpless and innocent of Americans in the United States every day," said Horsley, founder of the Creator's Rights Party, what he called an "organized secession movement."

Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University in San Bernardino, said Rudolph was one of those "ticking time bombs" who reacted violently to the "contorted carnival mirror of genuine legitimate debates that are going on in the mainstream."